Many Indians Cutting
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Fijian Sugar
Strike
Many Indians Cutting Cane
WHEN the Commission appointed to inquire into the demands of the Indian growers for higher rates for sugar cane, concluded its hearing at Lautoka, Fiji, on September 28, Mr. E. S.
Smith, of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co., announced that the Ministry of Food, in London, had decided to increase the price of sugar supplied from the Colonies by 15/- per ton, as from January 1, 1944.
Mr. Smith could not say what would be the effect on the cane cut this year in Fiji; but he estimated that it would re present a higher price than ever before paid in Fiji.
The chairman of the Commission, Mr.
E. E. Jenkins, said that the increase made m price by the British Department was a commercial matter, and applied to all British Colonies. It had nothing directly to do with the dispute in Fiji, or with the Fiji Commission, and the report and recommendations of the Commission would be submitted to the Government in the normal way.
ON October 8, the strike of Fiji Indian cane-cutters still was officially con tinuing, although many Rewa growers were cutting their cane, and it was expected that the Rewa mill would start crushing almost immediately. The position at Rarawai and Penang was of ficially described as having “improved,” and many Indian sugar growers were cutting their cane between Kavanagasau and Lautoka—the cane from these places going to the mill at Ba, which was work ing three shifts.